European tech firms were the standout performers, with the sector up nearly 1 percent after shares in Nokia jumped more than 6 percent to their highest level since February 2016 after settling a patent dispute with Apple .

In the UK, the FTSE 100 was up 0.1 percent, hovering close to record highs, as a weaker sterling continued to underpin gains in the exporter-heavy index.

Campaigning ahead of the June 8 general election was suspended after at least 22 people, including some children, were killed in suicide attack in Manchester overnight.

There was little direct market impact seen from the attack though shares of theme park operator Merlin Entertainments were off more than 1 percent and the top losers on the FTSE. (Reporting by Kit Rees, Editing by Vikram Subhedar)